The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-29
slHhat ka.s voc u DE way Of ladies'


torted Reginald Fontaine.
VERY likely. But / came from Pari.
oniy SIX months since, and shall return il
until that time before ] buy"
wiki some warmth Fontsine few "a
ihe show window and caught up tho
lockef lie put ibis before his scornful
visitor
..Here Is something you have never
sen exociled in Paris or elsewhere.
Mr. Barton looked at the locket in 81
Hence. lie drew of his gloves and took
Up the jewel lie examined it infinitely,
ald said. ~ last.
These are genuine brilliantsir
Guaranteed true diamonds
a very handsome afair-very hand
some. This came from Franeef'
Versailles. II is a masterpiece, sir,
known as the Versailles Locketn
What Is the price1'
Three thousand dollars
hr Barton inspected il closely, and
isii i down at las. with manifest change
q baaining He looked Of Reginald
foniaiBe more cordially, and said, in an
iasinuafing tene:
4 presume you would shade that price
q little for cashir
i might, a very little returned the
I ieWelef, now speaking coldly in his turn.
well. III see I'll send ny wife
around 70 look at H. She likes such toys,
bur whether she will buy or not Is quite
uncertain. Luckily FOR me, she has money
n her own. For my part, three thousand
dollars is too much 10 put into jewel"
What Is your business, Mr.. Bartonln
inquired Fontsine.
Importer Of oil paistings. am also
commissioned by wealthy people 10 buy
works Of ar abroad, and usually make a
TIP once year. An here now 20 receive
q Shipment from Antwerp. Ny wife and
] arr stopping ct the Desplaines House.
lie laid down an embossed card, neatly
engraved with his name and bearing his
crest. bowed and sauntered out.
Three DAYS later messenger came to
Reginald Foutaiae with this note:
sDEkR sm. Please bring the loeket to
Rom -, Desplains House, at two o'clock
this afternoon Ny wife wishes % Zee it, and
Is unable 70 leave the hotel ! can't promise
you that she vii buy but, as you ike 10 show
your vanes, ! would b pleased 10 have you
submit the loeket 20 her. Yours
T. F. BARTON
Reginald Fon;aine thought a moment.
Then his dignity asserted itself. He
called his trusiy brother, and showed him
the note.
Jean. I'll let You wait on these poo
pie Sell the locket If you can. Get
tweniy-seven hundred if you can't do
any better. Take good care Of the
lockctn
a porter led Jean that afternoon 10
Room p, and knocked upon the door.
Enter said voice within.
Jean went in. A lovely young woman,
richly clad. with pale face and languid
air, reciined in an easy-chair. Before her
on a oentre-fable was a tray Of wine
glasses Mr. Barton stood opposite, and
sill upheld q newly opened bottle from
which be had just poured q tiny glass Of
dark wine. lie bowed 70 Jean.
You are from the jeweler'sin
Yes, sir
step forward, il you please
The porter went cut and closed the (
door. Jean handed forth the locket, /
which Mr.. Barton passed to his wife.
How beautiful
She held il to the light and examined /
II critically.
Had you not better take this nowi"
said Mr. Barton, profering her the glass /
Of vine.
She took II, and looked toward Jean.
Perhaps this gentleman-" she said.
SUCCESSFULLY.
. Certainly, replied Mr.. Barton. He
poured out two more glasses, and pushed
one toward Jean. "Will you Join US,
siri Il is port. Do you like sweet
wincg1
Jean was very temperate and unused to
liquors But here were a couple evil
IDENTIFY Of high social rank, accustomed,
DO doubt. 10 the foreign use Of wine. 1t
might give offense TO refuse, and bargains
ofien hang on TRIES. He responded
oour;eously, and slipped the sweet port to
the quick bottom Of his glass.
~ Take seat here said the lady.
Jean accepted large easy chair By her
side She turned her bright, dazzling
eyes upon him,
"a You are certain these are real dia-
mondsf"
Warranted genuine, madam" re-
turned Jean.
His voice sounded thick to his own
ears, strange oppression rose into his
brain, the world seemed rocking upon
endless waves, and the lady and the locket
TO float away-away.
When Jean swoke, twilight filed the
room with fantastic shadows, and rays
from the street lamps fell Pickering on the .
walls.
He knew be was in a place he had seen
before, bnt al IVES so unwonted, and the /
langaoT that lay upon him was so deli
eioas and enchanting, that he felt sure he 1
was IN a dream from which he hated 10 I
awaken.
Even the loud knocking at the door /
failed 20 rouse him 10 reality, and when /
he heard his brothers voice CRYING out in /
alarm: " Jeani Jeanir It only stirred his
wrath, as il summoned at an unwelcome
hour.
Then followed silence, and he sat mar
vcling at the luxurious surroundings, and
the mystery Of his presence here.
The turning OF key was followed by
the quick entrance Of the hotel clerk and
Fontaine The jeweler darted
forward to his brother and clasped his
arm; he looked into his dilated eyes and
bewildered face, and cried:
"Jeani jean What is the matterf
Where is the locketl'
The locketi Jean sprang up. His
lethargy departed. He understood, and
toward his brother, fell sense
less at his feet.
Ten days later the French salesman re-
appeared. In vain Reginald Fontaine re-
counted these facts and urged delay until
the sWindler was captured and the loclxet
The Frcnchman only
shrugged and listened, and at the end re-
peated: Settlement
Fontaine at last drew check for the
amount Of his Indebtedness, and the
Frsnehnan disappeared.
Time passed. No trace was found Of
Barton nor his lovely wife. One day, in
New York, Reginald visited the Rogues'